The hug that will go down in history
On Tuesday night, former President Bill Clinton spent more than 40 minutes, and covered four decades, attempting to humanize his wife, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
A day later, President Barack Obama did it in three seconds, with a hug that will go down in history.
Addressing the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Obama spoke at great length about Clinton’s admirable qualities, saying, among other things, that she was the most qualified presidential candidate ever.
But it was the after-hug that, well, clinched it.
As the president basked in the highly emotional response from Democratic delegates to what may have been his last big speech to the nation, the candidate made a “surprise” appearance onstage. First pointing at each other in mutual admiration, the two stepped together. Clinton looked up into the president’s face — at 6-feet-1, he’s got at least six inches on her — and smiled, saying a few words, no doubt of gratitude.
Then they each stepped into a long and full-torso embrace, after which Clinton briefly rested her head on Obama’s chest. The crowd went wild, in the arena and online.
Although undoubtedly staged to provide a frontpage photo-op, The Hug quickly became a collegial version of Klimt’s “The Kiss,” except the complexity of the context and relationships involved made it a far riskier move.
Warm hugs — the charm of “Frozen’s” Olaf notwithstanding — are notoriously tough to pull off on television. Too little physical contact for too short a time and the gesture looks awkward, a sign of emotional ambivalence or even sublimated loathing. Too tight or too long and onlookers tend to get uncomfortable and shout things like “get a room.”
And while Obama is something of a hugger — just ask Chris Christie! — Hillary Clinton is not known for her public cuddliness. Indeed, the emotional distance of her public persona has long been at odds with the warm and generous woman described by those who know her well.
It makes sense, of course; women in power have long had to fight any sign or symbol that might suggest weakness — why do you think power suits and shoulder pads were invented?
Obama’s speech did exactly what it set out to do; with his signature oratorical skill, Obama anointed Clinton, condemned Trump and offered an optimistic view of the world to counter the Republicans. Like first lady Michelle Obama, he was there to unite the Democrats, to offer respect to the still-grumbling Bernie Sanders supporters and ask the American people, in very direct language, to rally for Clinton the way they rallied for him.